Colin Van Ostern on Education

Universal full-day kindergarten; more PACE; more local aid

Colin will work with educators and state and local school boards to lift the restriction that is preventing more school districts from launching PACE pilot programs. This would reduce our reliance on standardized tests while
maintaining appropriate learning standards for kids at every grade.

Fully funding universal full-day kindergarten will improve our schools while also helping more working parents fully participate in the workforce.

New Hampshire cannot afford to refuse fast-growing school districts a proportional increase in state funding for their students, as has happened in recent years.
Additionally, the state should consider how to reinstitute a more sustainable building aid program to support local building construction projects that are in clear need.

Increase young women and girls in STEM school programs

Bring More Young Women and Girls into Sciences, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) Educational Program and Industries: Increasing the number of young women and girls participating in STEAM educational programing and workforce
pathways will strengthen New Hampshire's economy. Last January, the Governor's Task Force on Science, Engineering, and Math recommended the establishment of an advisory council to coordinate statewide work to promote girls in STEM,
and the overall STEM task force was extended by Executive Order. As Governor, Colin will work to expand upon this initiative by commissioning an advisory council that will
coordinate public and private STEAM educational and workforce programs to promote mentorship for young girls at our public schools.

College for America: students into workforce with no debt

Education innovator & anti-student debt champion: In 2013, Colin helped launch College for America at Southern New Hampshire University --
a nonprofit, fully-accredited college that helps frontline, working adults achieve a college education with little or no debt.